JP2012238178A - Image forming apparatus, and image forming system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To allow both an image forming apparatus that has received a print instruction and another image forming apparatus placed within a close range of said image forming apparatus to perform printing.SOLUTION: An image forming apparatus 3 includes: a first communication unit 201 that is communicably connected with other image forming apparatuses via a large-capacity data transfer communication network N1; a second communication unit 209 that is communicably connected with other image forming apparatuses via a short-distance wireless communication network N2; a detection unit 210 for devices within a close range that transmits a detection signal for detecting other image forming apparatuses placed within a range where the short-distance wireless communication network N2 can communicate via the second communication unit 209, and obtains identification information of an image forming apparatus within a close range that has responded to the detection signal; a job allocation unit 214 that allocates a number of printings to the image forming apparatus 3 and the other image forming apparatus within a close range; and a job requesting unit 215 that transmits both image data and information about the allocated number of printings to the image forming apparatus within a close range using the identification information via the first communication unit 201.

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus and an image forming system, and more particularly to an image forming apparatus and an image forming system in which when a plurality of copies are printed, the other image forming apparatuses share printing using a network.

Conventionally, when document data and image data are printed, when there are a large number of copies, it takes time to print with one printer, so printing is assigned to a plurality of printers.
Patent Document 1 discloses a print instruction apparatus that issues a distributed print request based on print data, a distributed print management server that divides print data into a plurality of print jobs according to the distributed print request, and stores the print data in a print job holding unit. A distributed printing system including a plurality of printers that acquire a print job from a distributed print management server and execute printing is described.
Here, a distributed print request transmitted from a PC (Personal Computer) (print instruction apparatus) to a printer server (distributed print management server) includes information indicating whether or not distributed printing is requested. If the acquired print request includes the information requested for distributed printing, the printer server issues a distributed printing start notification to all printers on the network. The printer that has received the distributed print start notification returns a response to the printer server with print capability information such as printing speed and color / monochrome printing, and status information such as the remaining amount of paper and the remaining amount of toner. The printer server selects a printer from the responding printers based on the print capability information and the status information, transmits a print job, and performs printing.

JP 2004-220565 A (paragraphs 0061 to 0077)

  However, when performing distributed printing with several printers via a conventional printer server, the printer server selects a printer to perform printing based on the printing capability information and status information. Printing may be performed by a distant printer instead of the printer. Therefore, there is a problem that the user who uses the PC has to go to the place where the distant printer is installed in order to collect the printed matter.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and image formation is performed by both an image forming apparatus that has received a print instruction and another image forming apparatus located at a short distance from the image forming apparatus. It is an object to provide an apparatus and an image forming system.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, an image forming apparatus according to the present invention is an image forming apparatus that inputs an image data together with the number of copies to form an image on a medium, and transmits and receives data using identification information. A first communication unit communicably connected to another image forming apparatus via a capacity data transmission communication network, and another image via a short-range wireless communication network capable of transmitting data to an unspecified partner. A second communication unit communicably connected to the forming apparatus, and a detection signal for detecting another image forming apparatus located within a communicable distance range of the short-range wireless communication network via the second communication unit A short-range device detection unit that acquires identification information of each of the short-range image forming devices that responded to the detection signal, and the input number of copies is set as the self-device and the short-range Using the identification information, the image data input to the short-distance image forming apparatus and the short-distance image forming apparatus are assigned to the short-distance image forming apparatus via the assignment allocating unit and the first communication unit. And a sharing request unit that transmits both the allocated print copy number information.

  Here, the short-range wireless communication network is, for example, Zigbee (registered trademark) or Bluetooth (registered trademark). The large-capacity data transmission communication network is, for example, a Wi-Fi (registered trademark) or an IP (Internet Protocol) network.

  According to the present invention, printing can be performed by both an image forming apparatus that has received a print instruction and another image forming apparatus located in the vicinity thereof.

1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an image forming system according to the present invention. 1 is a block diagram of an image forming apparatus according to a first embodiment applied to a multi-function peripheral that reads a document and generates image data. 1 is a block diagram of an image forming apparatus according to a first embodiment applied to a printer. It is an example of the data memorize | stored in the other apparatus information storage part updated by the short distance apparatus detection part. It is an example of the data memorize | stored in the other apparatus information storage part updated by the assignment inquiry part. It is an example of the data memorize | stored in the other apparatus information storage part updated by the assignment allocation part. 4 is a flowchart of shared printing processing operation of the image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment. 8 is a flowchart of shared printing processing operation of the image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment continued from FIG. 7. 6 is a flowchart of a sharing inquiry processing operation of the image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment. 5 is a flowchart of shared printing contract processing operation of the image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment. FIG. 10 is a block diagram of an image forming apparatus according to a second embodiment applied to a multi-function peripheral that reads a document and generates image data. 10 is a flowchart of an authentication processing operation of the image forming apparatus according to the second embodiment.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention (hereinafter referred to as “the present embodiment”) will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Each figure is only schematically showing the present invention. Therefore, the present invention is not limited to the illustrated example. Moreover, in each figure, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected about the common component and the same component, and those overlapping description is abbreviate | omitted.

[Configuration of image forming system]
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an image forming system including a plurality of image forming apparatuses.
The image forming system 1 includes a PC 2 (21, 22,...) And a plurality of image forming apparatuses 3 (31, 32, 33, 34, 35,...). Each PC 2 and each image forming apparatus 3 are connected so as to be capable of one-to-one communication via a first network N1 serving as a large-capacity data transmission communication network. The image forming apparatus 3 is communicably connected to another image forming apparatus 3 located within the communicable distance range (within the distance L) via the second network N2 as a short-range wireless communication network. The

(First network N1)
The first network N1 is a communication network that can send and receive data by specifying an address of a communication partner. In the present embodiment, the first network N1 uses a wireless / wired LAN (Local Area) as an IP (Internet Protocol) network that transmits and receives data to and from a communication partner using an IP address (Internet Protocol Address) as identification information. Network). Wi-Fi (registered trademark) may also be used.

(Second network N2)
The second network N2 is a wireless network, transmits an inquiry to an unspecified number of communication partners using radio waves in a predetermined frequency band, and is connected to one or more communication partners who have responded to the inquiry. It is a communication network that can establish and establish data transmission / reception. As described above, the second network N2 uses a radio wave in a predetermined frequency band to limit a distance range in which the radio wave can reach. Therefore, the second network N2 narrows down communication partners within a predetermined distance range (within a communicable distance range). It is a communication network that can. In the present embodiment, the second network N2 is Class 2 Bluetooth (registered trademark) having a maximum communicable distance range of 10 m. Alternatively, Zigbee (registered trademark) may be used.

  Here, when using Bluetooth (registered trademark) for the second network N2, the communication partner is identified using an address (BD_ADDR) pre-assigned to a communication device compatible with Bluetooth (registered trademark). In addition, an arbitrary device name can be assigned so that the user can easily identify the device name. The BD_ADDR and the device name can be acquired by receiving response data for the above inquiry.

(PC2)
A PC (Personal Computer) 2 (21, 22,...) Is a computer, and is operated by a user (not shown) to select a desired printing destination, and the image forming apparatus 3 that is the printing destination is selected. An apparatus for transmitting print job data via the first network N1.
This print job data includes at least image data, the total number of copies, and sharing flag information. The sharing flag information includes an instruction by a user (single printing instruction) that causes the image forming apparatus 3 that has received the print job data to perform printing alone, or a user that performs printing by sharing with other image forming apparatuses 3. Instructions (shared printing instructions) are included. For example, the print job data includes a flag value as shared flag information. If this flag value is “0”, it is a single print instruction, and if the flag value is “1”, it is a shared print instruction.

(Image forming apparatus 3)
The image forming apparatus 3 (31, 32, 33, 34, 35,...) Is a network printer, and is an apparatus that forms an image on a medium based on an input print instruction. Details will be described later.
The image forming apparatus 3 (33) establishes a connection with the image forming apparatus 3 (32, 34) within the communicable distance range via the second network N2 in accordance with the input shared printing instruction. Then, the image forming apparatus 33 acquires an IP address from the image forming apparatuses 32 and 34 via the second network N2. The image forming apparatus 33 outputs shared print job data including image data to the image forming apparatuses 32 and 34 via the first network N1 using the IP address. The image forming apparatuses 32 and 34 generate an image from the image data based on the shared print job data, and form (print) the image on the medium.
The image forming apparatus 3 is, for example, an electrophotographic recording type printer, a facsimile apparatus, a copying machine, an MFP (Multifunction Peripheral), or the like, but may be any type of image forming apparatus.

Hereinafter, for convenience, the image forming apparatus 3 (33) for which shared printing is instructed is referred to as an “image forming apparatus 3a”, and within the distance range within which the image forming apparatus 3a can communicate via the second network N2 (within the range of the distance L). The image forming apparatus 3 (32, 34) located in () is referred to as “image forming apparatus 3 b”, and the image forming apparatus 3 (31, 35) located outside the communicable distance range (outside the distance L) is designated as “image forming apparatus”. Device 3c ".
That is, the image forming apparatus 3a establishes a connection with the image forming apparatus 3b via the second network N2, and transmits shared print data to the image forming apparatus 3b via the first network N1.

<< First Embodiment >>
2 and 3 are block diagrams of the image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an image forming apparatus having a function of reading a document and generating image data, for example, applied to a multifunction machine. FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a printer that does not have a function of reading a document, for example, a printer. 2 is a block diagram of the image forming apparatus.
Hereinafter, FIG. 2 will be described on the assumption that the image forming apparatus 33 is a multifunction peripheral. 3, the image forming apparatus 3 (33) shown in FIG. 2 does not include the document reading unit 203, the display input control unit 204, and the display input unit 219. Since these constituent parts are the same, description thereof will be omitted.

The image forming apparatus 3 (33) shown in FIG. 2 includes a first communication unit 201, a job receiving unit 202, a document reading unit 203, a display input control unit 204, a job information processing unit 205, and a job information storage unit. 206, image forming unit 207, sharing flag determination unit 208, second communication unit 209, short-range device detection unit 210, other device information storage unit 211, sharing inquiry unit 212, and printing capability information storage unit 213, a sharing assignment unit 214, a sharing request unit 215, a sharing contract determination unit 216, an IP address storage unit 217, a short distance response unit 218, and a display input unit 219.
The control unit 4 is a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a job reception unit 202, a display input control unit 204, a job information processing unit 205, a sharing flag determination unit 208, a short-range device detection unit 210, and a sharing. It comprises an inquiry unit 212, a sharing assignment unit 214, a sharing request unit 215, a sharing contract determination unit 216, and a short distance response unit 218.
The job information storage unit 206, the other device information storage unit 211, the print capability information storage unit 213, and the IP address storage unit 217 are a ROM (Read Only Memory), a RAM (Random Access Memory), and an HDD (Hard). Disc Drive) and the like, and stores programs and data for the control unit 4 to execute processing.

(First communication unit 201)
The first communication unit 201 is connected to the first network N1 and transmits and receives data in accordance with the protocol of the first network N1. The first communication unit 201 transmits and receives data by designating an address of a communication partner.
In the first embodiment, the protocol of the first network N1 is the Internet Protocol.

(Second communication unit 209)
The second communication unit 209 is connected to the second network N2, and transmits and receives data according to the protocol of the second network N2. The second communication unit 209 transmits an inquiry to an unspecified number of communication partners, establishes a connection with one or more communication partners that have responded to the inquiry, and transmits and receives data.
Further, the second communication unit 209 responds to an inquiry from another image forming apparatus 3 and establishes a connection with the other image forming apparatus 3 that has inquired. Here, the second communication unit 209 transmits, as response data, an address (BD_ADDR) assigned in advance to the communication device (second communication unit 209) in response to an inquiry from another image forming apparatus 3. A device name for enabling the user to easily identify the device name can be transmitted as response data. The device name can be arbitrarily set and is data stored in a storage unit (not shown).

  In this embodiment, an inquiry is made using an Inquiry request and a Remote Name request. Here, the Inquiry request is a request to be sent to an unspecified number of partners without designating a selection partner. The device (image forming apparatus 3) that has received this inquiry request returns BD_ADDR of its own apparatus as response data. In addition, the Remote Name request is a request for transmitting by specifying a transmission partner with BD_ADDR in order to acquire a device name. The device (image forming apparatus 3) that has received this Remote Name request returns the device name held in its own device as response data.

For example, the second communication unit 209 included in the image forming apparatus 3 (33) transmits an inquiry request to an unspecified number of image forming apparatuses 3. Response data is sequentially received from the other image forming apparatuses 3 that have received this inquiry request, and BD_ADDR included in the response data is acquired. At this time, it is assumed that the second communication unit 209 included in the image forming apparatus 33 receives response data from the image forming apparatuses 32, 34, and 35.
The second communication unit 209 designates BR_ADDR of the image forming apparatus 32 included in the response data from the image forming apparatus 32 and transmits a Remote Name request. Then, response data is received from the image forming apparatus 32 that has received the Remote Name request, and the device name of the image forming apparatus 32 included in the response data is acquired.
Similarly, the second communication unit 209 designates each BD_ADDR included in the response data from the image forming apparatuses 34 and 35 and transmits a Remote Name request. Then, response data is received from the image forming apparatuses 34 and 35 that have received the Remote Name request, and the device names of the image forming apparatuses 34 and 35 included in the response data are acquired.

  In the first embodiment, the protocol of the second network N2 is a profile when Bluetooth (registered trademark) is used as a communication means, for example, L2CAP (Logical Link Control and Adaptation Protocol), SDP (Service Discovery Protocol), or the like. is there.

(Job receiving unit 202)
The job receiving unit 202 acquires print job data from the data received by the first communication unit 201 and outputs the print job data to a job information processing unit described later.

(Sharing request part 215)
The sharing request unit 215 generates shared print job data and transmits it to the counterpart device (image forming device 3b) via the first communication unit 201.
The sharing request unit 215 acquires the image data included in the print job data, and the number of copies (assigned number of copies) allocated to the counterpart device (image forming apparatus 3b) by the sharing allocation unit 214 described later, and the image data The shared print job data including the number of copies is generated. Then, the first communication unit 201 transmits the destination IP address of the partner apparatus (image forming apparatus 3b) as a destination.

(Short range device detector 210)
The short-range device detection unit 210 controls the second communication unit 209 to transmit an inquiry to an unspecified number of communication partners using radio waves in a predetermined frequency band, and has responded to the inquiry. Establish a connection with one or more communication partners.
In the first embodiment, the second network N2 to which the second communication unit 209 is connected is Bluetooth (registered trademark), and the short-range device detection unit 210 controls the second communication unit 209 to connect to nearby devices. An inquiry is sent to the server, a connection is established with the responding communication partner, and a piconet is formed. Thus, since the second network N2 is Class 2 Bluetooth, the short-range device detection unit 210 is within L (L = 10 [m]) from the place where the image forming apparatus 33 (3a) in FIG. 1 is installed. A connection with the image forming apparatuses 32 and 34 (3b) located can be established.

  The short-range device detection unit 210 acquires response data at the time of inquiry transmission from the partner device (image forming device 3b). Information (BD_ADDR and device name) included in the response data is stored in the other device information storage unit 211 described later.

(Shared inquiry section 212)
The sharing inquiry unit 212 makes an inquiry about the contract for shared printing to the image forming apparatus 3b in which the connection is established (a piconet is formed).
The sharing inquiry unit 212 acquires the IP address of the own apparatus (image forming apparatus 3a) from the IP address storage unit 217, and generates sharing inquiry data including the IP address (embedded as data). Then, the sharing inquiry unit 212 controls the second communication unit 209 to send the sharing inquiry data to the partner apparatus (image forming apparatus 3b) with which the connection has been established by sending the sharing inquiry data. .
Thereafter, the sharing inquiry unit 212 acquires sharing inquiry data from the counterpart apparatus (image forming apparatus 3b) as the transmission destination, and the IP address (partner apparatus IP address) and printing capability information (printing speed: printing speed: included in the sharing inquiry data). PPM) and shared contract information are extracted and stored in the other device information storage unit 211. This sharing contract information includes an answer to the inquiry about the contract for shared printing.

(Short range response unit 218)
The short-range response unit 218 makes a response indicating whether or not shared contract is possible in response to a shared print contract inquiry from the partner apparatus (image forming apparatus 3a) that has established the connection.
When the short distance response unit 218 receives the sharing inquiry data from the partner apparatus (image forming apparatus 3a), the short distance response unit 218 requests the sharing contract determination unit 216 described later to perform a determination process. When the determination result by the sharing contract determination unit 216 is “contribution contract is possible” (sharing printing can be contracted), the short distance response unit 218 receives the IP address storage unit 217 described later from its own device (image forming apparatus 3b). The print capability information (print speed: PPM) is acquired from the print capability information storage unit 213 described later.
Then, the short-range response unit 218 generates shared response data including the IP address of the own apparatus (image forming apparatus 3b), printing capability information (printing speed: PPM), and shared contract information, and the sharing inquiry data transmission source ( Share response data destined for the image forming apparatus 3a) is transmitted to the second communication unit 209.
In addition, the short distance response unit 218 extracts the IP address of the partner apparatus (image forming apparatus 3a) included in the sharing inquiry data. Thereby, it is possible to communicate with the partner apparatus (image forming apparatus 3a) via the first network N1.

  Here, the short distance response unit 218 sets the status of the own apparatus (image forming apparatus 3) to “BUSY” after transmitting the sharing response data whose sharing contract information is “sharing contract is possible”. While this status is “BUSY”, the image forming apparatus 3 does not accept print jobs other than shared print job data acquired by the job receiving unit 202 via the first communication unit 201.

  Further, the timing at which the short distance response unit 218 acquires the IP address of the own apparatus (image forming apparatus 3b) from the IP address storage unit 217 may be the timing at which the sharing inquiry data is received, or from the sharing contract determination unit 216. It may be the timing at which the sharing contract permission information is acquired.

(Original reading unit 203)
The document reading unit 203 is a scanner, reads a document surface placed on a document placement surface (not shown), converts the document surface into data, and generates image data.

(Display input unit 219)
The display input unit 219 includes a display screen and an input device, and includes, for example, a touch panel, an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display), and a set of buttons.
(Display input control unit 204)
The display input control unit 204 acquires information input via the input device of the display input unit 219, generates screen data based on the acquired input information, and displays the screen data on the display screen of the display input unit 219. Further, the display input control unit 204 outputs the acquired input information to the job information processing unit 205.

For example, on the display screen of the display input unit 219, an image for asking the user the number of copies to be printed (forming an image on a medium) of a document read by the document reading unit 203 is displayed. The user inputs the desired number of copies to the input device. This input number is the total number of copies. Thereafter, when the total number of copies is two or more, an image asking the user whether or not to cause other image forming apparatuses 3 to perform shared printing is displayed on the display screen of the display input unit 219. The user enters the desired selection into the input device. This input selection is shared flag information. At this time, the user selects either “shared printing instruction” for performing shared printing or “independent printing instruction” for causing the image forming apparatus 3 to perform printing without performing shared printing (in operation). To do. Here, as the sharing flag information, if the selection is “shared printing instruction”, the flag = “1” is input, while if it is “single printing instruction”, the flag = “0” is included.
Then, the display input control unit 204 outputs the total number of print copies and the sharing flag information input to the display input unit 219 to the job information processing unit 205.

(Job information processing unit 205)
The job information processing unit 205 includes print job data (image data, total number of copies, sharing flag information, etc.) acquired from the job receiving unit 202 or the document reading unit 203 and the display input unit 219 (display input control unit 204). Is temporarily stored in the job information storage unit 206.
Then, the job information processing unit 205 starts executing the shared printing process if the shared flag information is a shared printing instruction. The job information processing unit 205 extracts data from the job information storage unit 206 in accordance with the shared printing process and provides the extracted data to each constituent unit described later.

(Job information storage unit 206)
The job information storage unit 206 is a storage unit that temporarily stores data, for example, a buffer. The job information storage unit 206 stores print job data (consisting of image data, total number of copies to be printed, shared flag information, etc.) by the job information processing unit 205.

(Share flag determination unit 208)
The sharing flag determination unit 208 determines whether to execute shared printing processing based on the sharing flag information included in the print job data.
The sharing flag determination unit 208 determines the sharing flag information input from the job information processing unit 205. If the sharing flag information is “sharing printing instruction” (flag = “1”) as a result of the determination, the sharing flag information is short. The apparatus detection unit 210 performs processing. On the other hand, if the sharing flag information is “single print instruction” (flag = “0”), the image forming unit 207 is caused to perform processing (print processing).

(Other device information storage unit 211)
The other device information storage unit 211 is a storage unit that stores information on the partner device (image forming device 3b) that has established a connection. For example, as shown in FIGS. 4 to 6, the other device information storage unit 211 stores BD_ADDR, device name, IP address (partner device IP address), and print capability information (printing) as information on the partner device. (Speed: PPM), sharing contract information, and the number of assigned copies are stored in association with each other.
These BD_ADDR and device name information are stored by the short-range device detection unit 210. Also, the IP address, printing capability information (printing speed: PPM), and sharing contract information are stored in the other device information storage unit 211 by the sharing inquiry unit 212, and information on the number of copies is assigned to the other device information by the sharing allocation unit 214. Stored in the storage unit 211.

In the item of BD_ADDR, a device identification address assigned in advance to a Bluetooth device included in the counterpart apparatus (image forming apparatus 3b) is stored.
In the device name item, a name assigned to the partner apparatus (image forming apparatus 3b) is stored so that the user can identify each partner apparatus (image forming apparatus 3b) with which the connection has been established.
In the IP address item, an IP address assigned to the partner apparatus (image forming apparatus 3b) is stored.

The PPM item stores a printing speed (paper / min) indicating the number of pages that can be printed per minute by the counterpart apparatus (image forming apparatus 3b).
Information included in the shared response data acquired from the partner apparatus (image forming apparatus 3b) is stored in the shared contract information item. If the sharing response data includes sharing contract permission information, “1” is stored in the sharing contract information. On the other hand, if the sharing response data includes sharing contract impossibility information, “0” is stored in the sharing contract information.
In the “allocated copy number” item, the number of print copies allocated to the counterpart apparatus (image forming apparatus 3b) by the shared allocation section 214 is stored.

  Further, as the printing capability information of the counterpart device, for example, the remaining number of media (paper) (remaining paper amount), the presence / absence of duplex printing, the presence / absence of color printing, etc. Associated and stored.

(Printability information storage unit 213)
The printing capability information storage unit 213 stores printing capability information of the own apparatus (image forming apparatus 3a). Similar to the print capability information of the other devices described above, as the print capability information of the own device (image forming device 3a), for example, the print speed indicating the number of pages that can be printed per minute, the remaining number of media (paper) ( The remaining amount of paper), whether double-sided printing is supported, whether color printing is supported, and the like are stored.

(Share allocation unit 214)
The sharing assignment unit 214 assigns the number of copies to each based on the printing speeds of the own device (image forming device 3a) and the counterpart device (image forming device 3b).
The allocating unit 214 acquires the printing speed (PPM) of the own apparatus from the printing capability information storage unit 213 and acquires the printing speed (PPM) of the partner apparatus from the other apparatus information storage unit 211. Here, if there are a plurality of partner apparatuses that have established connections (form a piconet), the printing speed (PPM) of all the partner apparatuses is acquired.

The shared assignment unit 214 narrows down the image forming apparatuses 3b that request shared printing based on the print job data. For example, if there is an instruction for color printing in the print job data, the image forming apparatus 3b that supports color printing (can perform color printing) is extracted.
Then, the assignment assignment unit 214 assigns a large number of copies to the image forming apparatus 3 having a high printing speed based on the printing speed of the own apparatus (image forming apparatus 3a) and the printing speed of the image forming apparatus 3b after narrowing down.

(Procedure for calculating the number of print copies to be assigned)
For example, as shown in FIG. 1, the image forming apparatus 33 is its own apparatus (image forming apparatus 3a), the image forming apparatuses 32 and 34 are counterpart apparatuses (image forming apparatus 3b), and its own apparatus (image forming apparatus 3a). (33)) is 20 [ppm], the counterpart apparatus (image forming apparatus 3b (32)) is 10 [ppm], and the counterpart apparatus (image forming apparatus 3b (34)) is 15 [ppm]. ppm] and the total number of copies to be printed is “100 copies”, the number of copies to be allocated is calculated as follows. Here, if it is not divisible, a value obtained by rounding down the decimal point is set as the number of copies.

であり、Ｎ３３＝４４［部］である。
また、相手装置（画像形成装置３２）に割り当てられる部数Ｎ３２は、

であり、Ｎ３２＝２２［部］である。 The number of copies N33 allocated to the own apparatus (image forming apparatus 33) is

N33 = 44 [parts].
The number of copies N32 allocated to the counterpart device (image forming device 32) is:

N32 = 22 [parts].

であり、Ｎ３４＝３７［部］である。 The number of copies N34 assigned to the remaining counterpart device (image forming device 34) is assigned to the other image forming device 3 (image forming device 33 and image forming device 32) calculated from the total number of copies (100 copies). It is a value obtained by subtracting the total value of the obtained number of copies.
That is, the number of copies N34 allocated to the remaining counterpart device (image forming device 34) is:

N34 = 37 [parts].

  Here, when setting to the number of print copies in the procedure for calculating the number of print copies to be allocated, if it is not divisible, the decimal point of the calculated value is rounded down, but the first decimal place of the calculated value may be rounded off, It may be rounded up.

(Shared contract determination unit 216)
In response to a determination request from the short-range response unit 218, the shared contract determination unit 216 determines whether or not the apparatus is in a state where it can contract shared printing (sharing contract is possible / impossible).
The sharing contract determination unit 216 determines that the sharing contract is not possible when the printing apparatus cannot execute the printing process even if the apparatus receives the print job. For example, when the apparatus is processing print job data (BUSY state), and when the document reading unit 203 is reading a document (generating print job data), it is offline that is not connected to the first network N1. If it is in the state, it is determined that the apparatus is in a state where it cannot undertake shared printing (unable to perform shared contract). As a result of the determination, if the apparatus is in a state where it can undertake shared printing (sharing contract is possible), sharing contract permission information is output to the short distance response unit 218.

(IP address storage unit 217)
The IP address storage unit 217 stores an IP address (Internet Protocol Address) assigned to the own device. An IP address update processing unit (not shown) acquires an IP address assigned to the own device and stores it in the IP address storage unit 217.

(Image forming unit 207)
The image forming unit 207 acquires print job data from the job information processing unit 205, feeds out a medium (paper) from a paper tray (not shown), and places an image on the medium based on the image data included in the print job data. Form (print).

Next, processing operations performed by the image forming apparatus will be described with reference to FIGS.
The image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment performs shared printing processing (FIGS. 7 to 8), shared inquiry processing (FIG. 9), and shared printing contract processing (FIG. 10).

First, the shared printing process (S100) performed by the image forming apparatus 3 (3a) shown in FIGS. 7 to 8 will be described.
This shared printing process (S100) is performed when the job information processing unit 205 acquires print job data from the job receiving unit 202 or when the job information processing unit 205 performs the document reading unit 203 and the display input unit 219 (display input control unit). 204), the job information processing unit 205 starts executing when the print job data is acquired from (204).

[Shared printing process]
The job information processing unit 205 acquires print job data (step S101), acquires the image data constituting the print job data, the total number of copies, and sharing flag information, and temporarily stores the print job data in the job information storage unit 206. Remember. Further, the job information processing unit 205 outputs the sharing flag information to the sharing flag determination unit 208.

The sharing flag determination unit 208 performs determination (sharing flag determination) from the value of the sharing flag information (step S102).
If the flag value is “0” (single print instruction) (step S102, “0”), the sharing flag determination unit 208 causes the job information processing unit 205 to temporarily store the job information in the job information storage unit 206. Print job data is output to the image forming unit 207. As a result, the image forming unit 207 acquires print job data (step S103).
On the other hand, if the value of the flag is “1” (shared printing instruction) (step S102, “1”), the shared flag determination unit 208 causes the short-range device detection unit 210 to execute processing.

  The short-range device detection unit 210 causes the second communication unit 209 to transmit a request to an unspecified number of neighboring image forming devices 3b (step S104). At this time, the second communication unit 209 first transmits an Inquiry request for inquiring about device detection, receives response data of the Inqury request, and then transmits a Remote Name request for inquiring about the device name. Then, it waits for a predetermined time and waits for reception of response data for the inquiry.

The short-range device detection unit 210 receives response data from the neighboring image forming device 3b (corresponding to the image forming devices 32 and 34 in FIG. 1) (step S105). Then, the short-range device detection unit 210 extracts BD_ADDR from the response data to the Inqury request received from the neighboring image forming device 3b, and extracts the device name from the response data to the Remote Name request. Then, using the extracted BD_ADDR, a connection request is transmitted to the neighboring image forming apparatus 3b (that is, the neighboring image forming apparatus 3b that has transmitted the response data). A connection is established (step S106). Thereby, a piconet is formed.
Then, the short-range device detection unit 210 stores the BD_ADDR and the device name extracted from the response data received from the neighboring image forming device 3b with which the connection has been established in the other device information storage unit 211 (step S107). At this time, the BD_ADDR and the device name are associated with each other device information storage unit 211 and stored as one record (see FIG. 4).

Then, after a predetermined time has elapsed, the sharing inquiry unit 212 performs a sharing inquiry process (step S200). Here, the sharing inquiry process (S200) performed by the image forming apparatus 3 (3a) shown in FIG. 9 will be described.
[Shared inquiry processing]
First, the sharing inquiry unit 212 of the image forming apparatus 3a obtains BD_ADDR by referring to one record from the other apparatus information storage unit 211 (step S201), and the own apparatus (image forming apparatus 3a) of the own apparatus (image forming apparatus 3a). An IP address is acquired (step S202). Then, the sharing inquiry unit 212 generates sharing inquiry data including the IP address (own device IP address) with BD_ADDR as the destination, and causes the second communication unit 209 to transmit the sharing inquiry data (step S203).
Thereafter, the second communication unit 209 receives sharing response data that is a response to the sharing inquiry data from the counterpart device (image forming apparatus 3b) corresponding to BD_ADDR (step S204).

The sharing inquiry unit 212 acquires shared response data via the second communication unit 209, extracts shared contract information included in the shared response data, and performs shared contract information determination (step S205).
If the sharing contract information is “1 (can be shared)”, the sharing inquiry unit 212 extracts the partner device IP address and the printing capability information (printing speed: PPM) included in the sharing response data, The device IP address, printing capability information (printing speed: PPM), and sharing contract information (1) are stored in the other device information storage unit 211 in association with the BD_ADDR acquired in step S201 (step S206). Then, the process of step S208 is performed.

  On the other hand, if the sharing contract information is “0 (sharing contract is impossible)”, the sharing inquiry unit 212 stores the sharing contract information (0) in the other device information storage unit 211 in association with the BD_ADDR acquired in step S201. (Step S207). Then, the process of step S208 is performed.

The sharing inquiry unit 212 determines whether there is an unacquired record in the other device information storage unit 211 (is there a remaining record?) (Step S208).
If there is a remaining record (step S208, Yes), the sharing inquiry unit 212 performs the process of step S201 again.
On the other hand, if there is no remaining record (step S208, No), the sharing inquiry unit 212 ends the sharing inquiry process (step S200) and performs the process of step S108 in FIG.

Returning to FIG. 7 again, the shared printing process (step S100) will be described.
The sharing assignment unit 214 starts processing at the timing when the data update of the other device information storage unit 211 is completed.
The assignment allocating unit 214 acquires the total number of copies from the print job data stored in the job information storage unit 206 (step S108). In addition, the assignment allocating unit 214 acquires the printing capability information (printing speed: PPM) of its own device (image forming apparatus 3a) from the printing capability information storage unit 213 (step S109), and further stores it in the other device information storage unit 211. A PPM (printing speed) is acquired from each record whose stored sharing contract information is “1” (step S110).

Then, the sharing allocation unit 214 calculates the number of allocation units to be allocated to the image forming apparatus 3b whose sharing contract information is “1” (step S111), and the allocation allocated to the record of the image forming apparatus 3b in the other apparatus information storage unit 211. The number of copies is stored (step S112).
The processing of step S111 and step S112 is performed for each record whose sharing contract information is “1” in the other device information storage unit 211, and the number of assigned copies (see FIG. 6) assigned to each image forming device 3b is calculated. The information is stored in the device information storage unit 211.
In addition, the assignment assignment unit 214 also calculates the number of assignment units to be assigned to the own apparatus (image forming apparatus 3a) in the process of step S111.

  Then, the sharing allocation unit 214 calculates the allocation number of the own device (image forming apparatus 3a) and the allocation number of the image forming apparatus 3b whose sharing contract information is “1” in the other apparatus information storage unit 211. The sharing request unit 215 performs processing.

The sharing request unit 215 acquires image data from the print job data stored in the job information storage unit 206 via the job information processing unit 205 (step S113).
Further, the sharing request unit 215 acquires the partner device IP address and the number of allocated copies of the image forming apparatus 3b whose sharing contract information is “1” from the other device information storage unit 211 (step S114). Then, the sharing request unit 215 generates shared print job data including the image data and the number of copies, and transmits the generated print job data to the first communication unit 201 with the destination device IP address as the destination (step S115).

The sharing request unit 215, among the image forming apparatuses 3b whose sharing contract information stored in the other apparatus information storage unit 211 is “1”, has not yet transmitted other shared printing job data (an image forming apparatus 3b). It is determined whether or not there is (step S116).
If there is an untransmitted counterpart device (step S116, Yes), the process of step S114 is performed again.
On the other hand, if there is no untransmitted counterpart device (step S116, No), the sharing request unit 215 causes the job information processing unit 205 to perform processing.

The job information processing unit 205 acquires image data from the print job data stored in the job information storage unit 206 (step S117). Then, the job information processing unit 205 acquires from the sharing assignment unit 214 the number of assignments assigned to the own apparatus (image forming apparatus 3a) calculated by the sharing assignment unit 214 (step S118). The job information processing unit 205 creates print job data including the acquired image data and the number of assigned copies (step S119), and outputs the print job data to the image forming unit 207.
As a result, printing processing is performed in the image forming unit 207 (step S120), and the medium on which the image is formed is discharged from the image forming apparatus 3a.

  The shared printing contract processing (S300) performed by the image forming apparatus 3 (3b) shown in FIG. 10 will be described. This shared printing contract processing is processing after the connection is established between the image forming apparatus 3a and the image forming apparatus 3b.

[Shared printing contract processing]
The sharing inquiry data transmitted from the image forming apparatus 3a is received by the second communication unit 209 of the image forming apparatus 3b (step S301). The short-range response unit 218 acquires the sharing inquiry data via the second communication unit 209, and extracts the IP address of the partner apparatus (image forming apparatus 3a) included in the sharing inquiry data (step S302).
The short distance response unit 218 requests the sharing contract determination unit 216 to perform a determination process. Thereby, the sharing contract determination part 216 performs a sharing contract determination (step S303).
If the determination result by the sharing contract determination unit 216 is “unable to share the contract” (step S303, sharing contract is not possible), the short distance response unit 218 makes the sharing response data with the sharing contract information “0” (not sharing the contract). And the sharing response data destined for the sharing inquiry data transmission source (image forming apparatus 3a) is transmitted to the second communication unit 209 (step S304).

On the other hand, if the determination result is “possible sharing contract” (step S303, sharing contract is possible), the short distance response unit 218 acquires the IP address of the own apparatus (image forming apparatus 3b) from the IP address storage unit 217 ( In step S305, the printing speed (PPM) is acquired from the printing capability information storage unit 213 (step S306).
Then, the short-range response unit 218 generates shared response data including the IP address of the own apparatus (image forming apparatus 3b), the printing speed (PPM), and the shared contract information “1” (shared contract is possible). Then, the sharing response data destined for the sharing inquiry data transmission source (image forming apparatus 3a) is transmitted to the second communication unit 209 (step S307).
After transmitting the shared response data, the short distance response unit 218 sets the status of the image forming apparatus 3b to “BUSY” (step S308).

Thereafter, the job receiving unit 202 of the image forming apparatus 3b waits until a predetermined time elapses, and waits for shared print job data to be transmitted from the image forming apparatus 3a.
The job receiving unit 202 determines whether or not shared print job data is received from the image forming apparatus 3a at a predetermined timing (step S309). Here, whether or not shared print job data has been received is determined based on whether or not the IP address of the shared print job data transmission source matches the IP address acquired in step S302. If they match, the shared print job data has been received.

If shared print job data has not been received from the image forming apparatus 3a (step S309, No), the job receiving unit 202 determines whether or not a predetermined time has elapsed since the shared response data was transmitted to the image forming apparatus 3a. Determination is made (step S310). If the predetermined time has not elapsed (step S310, No), the job receiving unit 202 performs the process of step S309 again.
On the other hand, when the predetermined time has elapsed (step S310, Yes), the job receiving unit 202 notifies the job information processing unit 205 that the job has not been received, and the job information processing unit 205 displays the status set to “BUSY”. Cancel (set to “Normal”) (step S312).

  In step S309, when the job receiving unit 202 receives shared print job data from the image forming apparatus 3a (Yes in step S309), the job receiving unit 202 outputs the shared print job data to the job information processing unit 205. The job information processing unit 205 outputs shared print job data including the image data and the number of copies to the image forming unit 207 (step S311). As a result, printing processing is performed in the image forming unit 207, and the medium on which the image is formed is discharged from the image forming apparatus 3b.

  The job information processing unit 205 that has received notification from the image forming unit 207 that printing has ended cancels the status set to “BUSY” (sets it to “Normal”) (step S312). Then, the image forming apparatus 3b ends the shared printing contract process.

<< Second Embodiment >>
An image forming apparatus 3A according to the second embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 11 is a block diagram of an image forming apparatus having a function of reading a document and generating image data, for example, applied to a multifunction machine. Further, although an image forming apparatus 3A (for example, an image forming apparatus applied to a printer) that does not have a function of reading a document is not illustrated, the image forming apparatus 3A illustrated in FIG. Since other configurations are the same, description thereof is omitted for convenience.
Also, the image forming apparatus 3A according to the second embodiment applied to the printer includes a display input control unit 204 and a display input unit 219, unlike the image forming apparatus 3 (FIG. 3) according to the first embodiment. This is because the image forming apparatus 3A includes an input unit through which a user inputs an authentication code.

(Job information processing unit 205A)
When the print job data acquired from the job receiving unit 202 includes an authentication code, the job information processing unit 205A outputs the authentication code to the authentication determination unit 220 described later. If the authentication result by the authentication determination unit 220 is successful, the shared print processing operation is started. Since this shared printing processing operation is common to the job information processing unit 205 of the first embodiment, a description thereof will be omitted.
On the other hand, if the authentication result is unsuccessful, the job information processing unit 205A discards the print job data and ends the process.

(Display input control unit 204A)
The display input control unit 204A omits a description of the processes common to the display input control unit 204 of the first embodiment.
The display input control unit 204A displays a screen prompting the user to input an authentication code on the display screen of the display input unit 219. The user inputs the authentication code into the input device. The display input control unit 204A outputs the input authentication code to the authentication determination unit 220.

(Authentication determination unit 220)
The authentication determination unit 220 determines that the authentication is successful when the authentication code included in the print job data matches the authentication code input to the display input unit 219. When the authentication is successful, the authentication determination unit 220 causes the job information processing unit 205A to start shared printing processing (FIGS. 7 to 8).

With the above configuration, if the authentication of the authentication code input by the user is successful in the image forming apparatus 3a, the printed material is discharged from the image forming apparatus 3a and the shared print job data is transmitted. The printed matter is also discharged from each of the 3b.
In the image forming apparatus 3 a that has received the print job data including the authentication code, the job information processing unit 205 </ b> A starts the shared printing process after the authentication determination unit 220 succeeds in the authentication. Therefore, it is not necessary to input an authentication code to each image forming apparatus 3b to which shared print job data is transmitted from the image forming apparatus 3a, and the user's trouble can be saved.

[Authentication process]
Next, an authentication process (S400) performed by the image forming apparatus 3A will be described with reference to FIG.
The job receiving unit 202 receives print job data (step S401), and extracts an authentication code from the print job data. Thereby, it is determined whether or not the authentication data is included in the print job data (step S402).

  If the authentication code cannot be extracted, that is, if the print job data does not include authentication data (No in step S402), the job receiving unit 202 outputs the print job data to the job information processing unit 205A (step S402). S403). As a result, the job information processing unit 205A executes shared printing processing (step S100 in FIG. 1).

  On the other hand, if the authentication code can be extracted, that is, if the print job data includes authentication data (Yes in step S402), the print job data including the authentication code is output to the job information processing unit 205A (step S404). ).

When the user operates the display input unit 219 and the authentication code input screen is displayed, the authentication code is input (step S405). Display input control unit 204 </ b> A outputs the authentication code input to display input unit 219 to authentication determination unit 220. Thereby, the authentication determination part 220 acquires the authentication code input by the user (step S406).
The authentication determination unit 220 acquires an authentication code included in the print job data from the job information processing unit 205A (step S407).

The authentication determination unit 220 compares the authentication code acquired in the process of step S406 with the authentication code acquired in the process of step S407 (step S408), and determines whether or not they match.
If they do not match (step S408, mismatch), the authentication determination unit 220 causes the job information processing unit 205A to discard the print job data (step S409).
On the other hand, if they match (step S408, match), the job information processing unit 205A is caused to execute shared printing processing (step S100 in FIG. 1).
Then, the image forming apparatus 3A (3a) ends the authentication processing operation.

Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and can be implemented with appropriate modifications.
For example, the image forming system 1 of the present embodiment may include a printer server. For example, print instruction data from the PC 2 to the image forming apparatus 3 may be output to the image forming apparatus 3 via a printer server connected to the first network N1.

  Further, as the second network N2, Zigbee (registered trademark) may be used instead of Bluetooth (registered trademark).

1 Image forming system 2 (21, 22) PC
3 (31, 32, 33, 34, 35) Image forming apparatus 3a Image forming apparatus 3b for which shared printing is instructed 3b Image forming apparatus 3c positioned at a distance where radio waves output by image forming apparatus 3a reach The image forming apparatus 3a outputs Image forming apparatus positioned at a distance where radio waves to be transmitted do not reach 4 control unit 201 first communication unit 202 job receiving unit 203 document reading unit 204 display input control unit 205 job information processing unit 206 job information storage unit 207 image forming unit 208 sharing flag Determination unit 209 Second communication unit 210 Short-range device detection unit 211 Other device information storage unit 212 Sharing inquiry unit 213 Printing capability information storage unit 214 Sharing allocation unit 215 Sharing request unit 216 Sharing contract determination unit 217 IP address storage unit 218 Short distance Response unit 219 Display input unit 220 Authentication determination unit N1 First network N2 First Network

Claims (7)

An image forming apparatus for inputting image data together with the number of copies to form an image on a medium,
A first communication unit that is communicably connected to another image forming apparatus via a large-capacity data transmission communication network that transmits and receives data using identification information;
A second communication unit that is communicably connected to another image forming apparatus via a short-range wireless communication network capable of transmitting data to an unspecified partner;
A detection signal for detecting another image forming apparatus located within a communicable distance range of the short-range wireless communication network is transmitted via the second communication unit, and a short-range image responding to the detection signal A short-range device detection unit for acquiring identification information of each forming device;
A shared allocation unit that allocates the input number of copies to each of the device and the short-range image forming device;
Using the identification information, the input image data and the assigned print copy number information assigned to the short distance image forming apparatus are both sent to the short distance image forming apparatus via the first communication unit. An image forming apparatus comprising: a sharing request unit for transmitting. A printing capability information storage unit for storing printing capability information of the device itself;
The short-range device detection unit obtains print capability information from each of the short-range image forming devices together with the identification information,
The shared allocation unit allocates the input number of print copies to the own apparatus and the short-distance image forming apparatus based on the printing capability information of the self-apparatus and the printing capability information of each of the short-distance image forming apparatuses. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1.   Sharing inquiry data for confirming whether or not printing is possible is transmitted to each of the short distance image forming apparatuses via the second communication unit, and sharing response data is transmitted from the short distance image forming apparatus as a transmission destination. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising a sharing inquiry unit that receives the image.   A short-range response unit that acquires printing capability information from the printing capability information storage unit and transmits sharing response data including the printing capability information when the sharing inquiry data is received via the second communication unit; The image forming apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the image forming apparatus is provided. It further includes a sharing contract determination unit that determines whether or not it is in a printable state,
5. The short distance response unit, when receiving the sharing inquiry data, causes the sharing contract determination unit to determine and transmits the determination result including the determination result in the sharing response data. Image forming apparatus.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the short-range wireless communication network is a network that conforms to a Bluetooth (registered trademark) standard.   An image forming system comprising two or more of the image forming apparatuses according to claim 1.

Images